The intensity of Cyclone Jal, expected to hit the coast between Chennai and Nellore in southern Andhra Pradesh on Sunday night, has scaled down considerably, the Regional Cyclone Warning Centre in Chennai said on Sunday.
An official said the wind speed of the cyclone had come down from 130 km per hour two days ago to 70 km per hour on Sunday.
The severe cyclonic storm that formed in the Bay of Bengal 700 km southeast of Chennai a couple of days ago moved closer to the coast on Sunday but weakened in intensity.
“From being a severe cyclonic storm, it has now become a cyclonic storm and is likely to cross the coast between Chennai and Nellore tonight,” YEA Raj, deputy director general of meteorology at the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai said.
He said the cyclone would still produce heavy rains over the next couple of days in Chennai and neighbouring districts, besides southern Andhra Pradesh.
The governments of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have made arrangements to evacuate fisherfolk from coastal areas and have readied boats to ferry people to safety if certain areas are flooded.
{{/usCountry}}The governments of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have made arrangements to evacuate fisherfolk from coastal areas and have readied boats to ferry people to safety if certain areas are flooded.
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